Looking ahead to Delhi, 2010

A INTRODUCTION
The three core values of the Commonwealth Games movement are Humanity, Equality and Destiny, which were adopted by the Games movement in 2001. These values inspire and unite millions of people and symbolise the broad mandate for holding the Games within the Commonwealth.

Eighteen Commonwealth Games have been held every four years, except during World War II (1942 and 1946). Initially the Games were known as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, then as British Commonwealth Games and simply as the Commonwealth Games since 1978.

More than that, however, they have always been known as the ‘Friendly Games’. The 19th Commonwealth Games are scheduled for October 2010 in Delhi, India.

The Games have evolved and changed over the years. Only single competition games were featured until team sports were introduced in 1998 and continue to be featured since then; a fully inclusive sports programme for Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD) was first introduced in 2002.

B. PREVIOUS COMMONWEALTH GAMES PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

1. In terms of results achieved at the 2006 Games, South Africa is ranked fifth in the Commonwealth Games Federation out of 71 countries.-

a) The relatively low percentage of the Team contributing to the medal haul in 2006, was disappointing, The athletes for the previous Games were selected on medal and development potential basis and a large majority of them thus either under-performed on the day, or were not adequately prepared, or the National Federations (NF’s) who ranked the athletes for selection according to medal potential against international standards, were not accurate in their assessments.
b) The limited number of sports in which medals were won is proof that certain NF’s mis-stated their athletes’ potential.

C. ROLE DIVISION ÔÇô SASCOC AND NATIONAL FEDERATIONS
With regard to the delivery of Team South Africa for participation in a multisports event like the Commonwealth Games, there is a clear role and responsibility between the macro sports organisation (SASCOC) and the participating NF’s and this is recorded in a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) entered into between the stakeholders (SASCOC and NF’s) as well as in an agreement entered into between SASCOC as custodian and all
individual team members:
a) SASCOC delivers the Team in its totality for its participation in the Games and is responsible for the coordination, organisation and management of all logistics attached to the project, e.g. the management, travel, accommodation, outfitting, accreditation, entry, medical support, insurance, etc. of the Team.
b) The NF’s have the responsibility to prepare the athletes and certain team officials who would qualify according to the eligibility and selection policy, and to take charge of the proper preparation of the selected athletes in order to ensure their optimum performance at the Games. The preparation of the athletes will be monitored on an ongoing basis by SASCOC.
c) The NF’s recommend to SASCOC athletes for selection. The final team selection is the responsibility of SASCOC.

D. MISSION STATEMENT AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE SELECTION OF TEAM SOUTH AFRICA TO THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES
1. Considering the fact that the level of competition at the Commonwealth Games is second only to that of the Olympic Games and the world championships of the relevant codes of sport and taking into consideration the analysis done in the above paragraphs, it is the mission of SASCOC to, most importantly, select a team of elite athletes that will be highly competitive at the Games in Delhi, who, through their participation will play an ambassadorial role for the country, who will serve as true role-models for the youth of the country, will succeed in improving the present country ranking at the Games and return with excellent individual and team performance results. In this regard, SASCOC is committed to deliver a well prepared, dope-free, healthy, well presented and in all respects a winning team to the Games. The point of departure will be one of a quality approach where the input
must measure up to the results to be achieved, i.e. final team placing and a highly credible performance.
2 SASCOC’s aim with its participation in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, is to increase the percentage of athletes part of Team South Africa who will contribute to the medal haul. To achieve the foregoing, SASCOC will adhere to a selection policy that is viable and sustainable to achieve this goal, utilizing precise selection criteria to achieve quality representation by elite athletes in the category of proven medal potential.
3. SASCOC in principle and as a fair point of departure accepts that all Federations that feature on the programme of the Games, might be represented in Team South Africa. It will be incumbent on the participating NF’s to convince the Selection Committee that the inclusion of their athletes, according to the set criteria, is warranted.
4. SASCOC is committed to the principle of transformation in South African sport. On the selection of Team South Africa, SASCOC furthermore subscribes to the principle of inclusion with regards to the inclusion of both elite men and women athletes,┬á gender equity. Final selection of athletes and team officials will however be subject to an assurance that such a team member will in all respects ÔÇô both on and off the field of play ÔÇô be a credit to his/her country.
5. No team member with an injury and/or illness that could possibly negatively influence his/her performance will be considered for the team to Delhi. This aspect also includes the principle that a ‘dope-free and clean’ Team will represent the country.

E. ELIGIBILITY OF PARTICIPATING NATIONAL FEDERATIONS
For NF’s to be eligible to participate in the Games, the following shall be applicable:
Recognised by and be in good standing with the South African Sports Authority, SASCOC, and by the respective International Federations.┬á Have an acceptable anti-doping policy in place and subscribe to the provisos of WADA.┬á Be prepared to enter into a MOU with SASCOC regarding athlete
preparation, athlete selection, delivery procedures, media liaison, marketing principles, etc.┬á Adherence to the pre-qualification system of the Commonwealth Games (for Team sports only).

F. ELIGIBILITY OF ATHLETES
For athletes to be eligible to participate in the Games, they need to:
Comply with the rules and regulations of their respective NF’s, International Federations (IF’s) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and not be under suspension. Be a Citizen/subject of South Africa as a constituent part of the Commonwealth Games, a valid South African passport holder.
Be prepared to enter into an Athlete’s Agreement with SASCOC.
G. ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION OF TEAM OFFICIALS
Coaches, team code managers and technical staff to be recommended for appointment by the respective NF’s. In this regard it will be expected from NF’s to adhere to the inclusivity principle of SASCOC.┬á No NF President can serve as a Manager of a sport.┬á Medical staff to be selected by SASCOC based on ratio/team size. The General Team Management (GTM) will be appointed by SASCOC.┬á All Team Officials must be prepared to enter into a Team Officials Agreement with SASCOC

H. CORE SELECTION CRITERIA
Individual Sport
To be considered for selection into Team South Africa, an athlete must be ranked in the top 4 (four) in the Commonwealth ranking system, where it is fine to use World rankings out of which one develops a Commonwealth ranking by excluding the non-Commonwealth nations.
Team Sport
For Team Sports, they must in the first place have qualified according to the CGF rules and regulations, but in addition be ranked in the top five in the Commonwealth. In the case where a Commonwealth ranking is not possible, an accurate assessment of medal potential shall be considered.